Breida reportedly 49ers' 'best rookie on the field' in minicamp

OXFORD, MS - NOVEMBER 05: Matt Breida #36 of the Georgia Southern Eagles runs with the ball during a game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

A San Francisco 49ers assistant recently told KNBR’s Kevin Jones that undrafted running back Matt Breida out of Georgia Southern was the best rookie on the field during minicamp, which is notable considering San Francisco also invested a fourth-round pick on Utah’s Joe Williams.

Williams and Breida come into the NFL with question marks on the heel of their respective 2016 seasons – Williams briefly stepped away from football due to personal issues and was off the 49ers’ draft board until the 11th hour, while Breida’s production fell off considerably from his 2014-15 campaigns following a coaching change – but both will have an opportunity to carve out a role under the new coaching staff.

Both players posted their peak PFF grade in 2015, with Breida’s 74.1 overall grade ranking 63rd out of 209 running backs with at least 250 snaps and Williams ranking 131st with a 67.4 overall grade.

Breida was the more consistent big-play threat of the two players, with 53.4 percent of his career rushing yardage coming on runs of 15 yards or more.

Williams was able to evade tacklers and gain yards after contact in the run game at a higher rate, with his 43.8 elusive rating on run plays beating out Breida’s 38.3 mark.